my life is taking new turns, ones i might not have expected, yet can't quite say no to.
i never feel that i can trust my life in the hands of convention and norms.
i would like to break all the molds.
i would like to challange our deepest beliefs.
i would like to live really and truly free.

it is dark out now.

hi. so today i almost got hit by a car, but it was pretty much my fault because i saw him coming, i just wanted to make a point. slow down and stop polluting the earth. but then i felt bad because I scared th shit out of the guy.

but before that i got to do something really fun. yep. i realized it was garbage day and i had forgot to take it out. as i was going outside the garbage truck was going by and so i had to chase it down the road and then i got to throw my own garbage in the truck, and it was pretty fun and it was sunny too.

also i have been communitcating with new youth reps from about 30 countries and they are all so excited and are getting to work now! its great.

there are lots of other things to say too, but i am busy and should really get to work
thanks for listening.

So i have had to do a lot of public speaking in the last week, and it is a huge fear of mine! Last week Maria, Martin and I facilitaed a workshop at Grazing the Commons, The Public Good Project. There were over 20 people there; we spoke about TakingITGlobal and how it contributes to the common good on a local and global level.

That night I co-facilitated a YMCA event called Peace by Piece: Breaking Down the Barriers of Prejudice. Over 150 youth participated in the Open Space Technology Workshop.
It was a huge success, there were some amazing solutions to prejudice put forward.
Tomorrow I am speaking at the YMCA Peace Medallion Award Ceremony. Yikes!
Oh well, I guess I will be getting practice whether I like it or not.
What does the universe have in store for me ;)?

Last night I went to a talk on AIDS in Africa. It was extremely informative. Here are some facts that I picked up:

One thrid of AIDS victims in Africa are between the ages of 15-24.

14 million woman are affected vs 11 million men

10.4 million African children are orphaned. 13 million AIDS orphans around the world. This will double by 2010. 95% of these live in Africa.

In Botswana 1 in 3 people is infected (think about the affects of that for a minute)

The supply of experieced teachers and medical staff is being drastically reduced as AIDS takes it toll. Thus health care and education are threatened.

AIDS is a disease of the poor, as per capita incomes go up, HIV infection rates drop.

Antiretroviral drugs drastically reduce the infection rate between an HIV positive mother and her baby.

Children are more vulnerable because of their un-formed immune system.

Adolescent girls in Africa are 6 times more likely to be infected than boys.

Solutions to AIDS MUST involve males as they are the main transmitters.

Education and Condom Distribution are crucial to stopping the spread of the disease.

Increase community discussion about HIV and AIDS encouraging traditional and religious leaders to convey positive messages

Increase the youth friendliness and use of reproductive health services

Encourage girls to stay in school, providing incentives.

It is very important to raise awareness about AIDS and increase the level of funding provided to PREVENTION.

for info check:

www.thebody.com
www.hopkins-aids.edu
www.unicef.org
www.unaids.org

So I went to Niagara with my parents, who flew into Toronto from Vancouver (5 hours away). We had such a great time! We went to the falls, which are so beautiful and so powerful, I liked to watch one little bit of water as it fell all the way down to the bottom.
We went for long walks and tasted a lot of yummy wine. The coutry side is gorgeous and if you can get away from the tacky towns its a great little trip. We had the cutest cabin right by the water. It was so peaceful, the nights were crystal clear and the days warm. It was fun.
Bye :)

"WHY IS THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE STILL IMPORTANT?"

ESSAY CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
$500 First Prize

The Embassy of Norway and the Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development invite High School students from across Canada to send us a 500 word essay expressing their views and outlining reasons why they think the Nobel Peace Prize is or is not important today.

The essay can be in English or French and must be approved by a teacher before submission. Essays can be sent by email to: info.ccfpd@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

or by mail to:

Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G2
attention: Peter S. Moore

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF ESSAY IS: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2001

First prize winner will receive $500
Two second prize winners will receive $250 each
Essays will be reviewed by a panel of judges:

Professor Gurli Wood, Carleton University
Professor Ingrid Urberg, Augustana University College
Sébastien Sigouin, Policy Advisor, Humanitarian Affairs, DFAIT Janet Durno, Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON DECEMBER 10, 2001 (NOBEL PEACE PRIZE PRESENTATION DAY)

For further information about the contest and the Nobel Peace Prize, please go to: http://www.cfp-pec.gc.ca/YouthandEducation/nobel_contest-e.htm

This year's Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded to the United Nations and Kofi Annan on December 10, 2001.


War Child Canada